Not Just a Pretty Face

Facial expressions send strong messages about what an image is trying to say...what the image is about. Unfortunately, a model's lack of expression can sometimes cause the photo to say next to nothing. One expression to avoid is the pouty-pouty runway model blank look that many people assume when being photographed. Both models below are engaged with the camera with strong facial or body language.

If you are shooting something "fashiony" like a model on a seamless or creating an image with the background dropped out, avoid blank stares. In the image on the left above, the woman could be a spokesperson for any number of beauty products, for example. She looks like she is speaking to us, as does the businesswoman in the next image. If you can't think of how an image could be realistically used, it probably won't be.

Even in the very posed "calendar girl" pictures above, the images are more successful because the model is engaging the viewer. The bored, glam look is may be part of the current style of fashion photography but it is not as versatile in stock photography as images where the model connects with the viewer visually.
It is important that images of people used in editorial and ad pieces appear authentic, especially when the image will serve a testimonial type use. An overly posed model certainly doesn't look like a believable spokesperson. Interact with the people in your images. Get them to talk about themselves...what they've been up to or what they did last weekend.

When working with family and friends or non-professional models this is especially important. And non-professional models if worked with carefully can look much more authentic and be better examples of who they are than a model pretending to be someone they aren't.

As an exercise, think of a product that the woman in the two nice shots above could be "talking" about. Write ad copy in your mind for each image. You will find, I think, that these "identical" shots with an air of authenticity can have totally different meanings because of the facial expressions. Here are my captions for the images. Right image: "Living at the new Madison Condos is living my dream." Left image: "You can smell the freshness in our new Organic Blend coffee".
I see a lot of images where a photographer has had the opportunity to shoot a pretty face/body but has no plan about the final message or emotion. One of the posts to a previous blog quoted Ansel Adams: "There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept".
When working with people, have an idea in your mind about what you want the images to "say" before you begin to shoot. Elicit strong but not overly staged facial expressions and body language. Stay away from fashiony images depicting pretty faces with blank stares for stock photography.

Do you have any pointers for getting non-professional models to give the expressions you use as examples here? Verbal ques, demonstrating the pose/expression yourself....what, in general, works best? The best thing to do is to help people to relax. Talk with them a bit about themselves. so that you have 'talking points' that you can use as you talk to them while shooting. Shoot for a while just to get them relaxed in front of the camera before asking them to strike a pose. Any other suggestions from the boards?

Great blog topic! Very informative and useful. I'm starting to work with more people and work hard to get nice, natural expressions and to have some message in mind. Do you have any pointers for getting non-professional models to give the expressions you use as examples here? Verbal ques, demonstrating the pose/expression yourself....what, in general, works best?

when photographing people, which i am just beginning to do, clothing choices are hard for me. do i make everyone dress in solid colors? i have a teenage boy who wore a t-shirt in all the shots. it had a wizard pattern on the front, i have not submitted any because of the pattern, or where the pattern was evident.

i would like a little guidance on this and felt it might fall in line with this blog. thanks!!

I just decided this afternoon to write another blog on wardrobe. So keep your eyes out. This will probably be posted in a week or two. In the meantime, yes, best to stick to solids and tee shirts without any printing on them.

when photographing people, which i am just beginning to do, clothing choices are hard for me. do i make everyone dress in solid colors? i have a teenage boy who wore a t-shirt in all the shots. it had a wizard pattern on the front, i have not submitted any because of the pattern, or where the pattern was evident.

i would like a little guidance on this and felt it might fall in line with this blog. thanks!!

Great blog post! I had to print it off! It so nicely puts into words what you want from a model. When working with family & friends, I think it would put them at ease to say, "Hey, I'm not looking for the next top model, I need real people like you". Love, love, love your blog and I look forward to each and evey entry! Thanks a million!

About me

I have written a about microstock photography released in 2010. I was the Director of Content at Dreamstime for two years ending in Feb, 2009. You can order my book from amazon via my website at www.ellenboughn.com/blog.

I have written a about microstock photography released in 2010. I was the Director of Content at Dreamstime for two years ending in Feb, 2009. You can order my book from amazon via my website at www.ellenboughn.com/blog.

Don't forget words and pictures go great together so make sure you choose some Dreamstime favorite pics to brighten your article. For inspiration, check out the hottest or the most useful blogs on the left.